Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Redock Dark’

ABSTRACT

A  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Redock Dark’ characterized by its medium sized blooms with pink ray-florets and yellow-green disc florets.

RELATED CULTIVARS

‘Redock Dark’ is related to ‘Redock Orange’ (pending appln. Ser. No. 09/910,030) and ‘Redock Salmon’ (pending appln. Ser. No. 09/910,027). These varieties are all mutants of the original ‘Redock’ (unpatented).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘Redock Dark’ is a product of a breeding and selection program which had the objective of finding color mutants of ‘Redock’. The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant that is a natural occurring sport of a parent chrysanthemum named ‘Redock’ (unpatented). A comparison with parent chrysanthemum ‘Redock’ is also made in this application. The new cultivar was discovered as a whole plant mutation in September, 1999 by Rob Noodelijk in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout, Holland. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Redock Dark’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in November, 1999 in Rijsenhout, Holland.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum bearing medium sized blooms with pink ray-florets and yellow-green disc florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the foliage of the cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium. The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown in April/May in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout, Holland in a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used in commercial practice. The greenhouse temperatures during this crop were at day-time between 18° C. and 25° C. and at night 20° C. After a long day period of 14 days, the photo-periodic response time in this crop was 47 days. After the long day period to flowering, growth retardants were applied 3 times in an average dose of 2.5 gram/liter water. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. This new variety produces medium sized blooms with pink ray-florets and yellow-green disc-florets blooming on the plant for 4 weeks. This new variety of chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations; however, the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature. To show the phenotype as described ‘Redock Dark’ can be planted without assimilation lightning (high pressure sodium lamps) between week 50 and week 40 of the next year under greenhouse conditions in Holland. With assimilation light (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be planted year round under greenhouse conditions in Holland.

From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Redock Dark’ is ‘Redock’. When ‘Redock’ and ‘Redock Dark’ are being compared the following differences and similarities are noticed: The difference of ‘Redock’ and ‘Redock Dark’ is the darker pink ray-floret color for which characteristics ‘Redock Dark’ has been selected out of ‘Redock’. All other characteristics of ‘Redock’ and ‘Redock Dark’ are similar. From other commercial varieties ‘Dark Reagan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,966) and ‘Blue Pink Elite Reagan’ (not patented yet) are the most similar. The differences between ‘Dark Reagan’, ‘Blue Pink Elite Reagan’ and ‘Redock Dark’ are (1) Flower form and color. The ray-florets of ‘Redock Dark’ are more upright, less broad, more pointed and more concave. The ray-floret color of ‘Redock Dark’ is slightly more red. (2) Vigour. Under the same circumstances the plants of ‘Redock Dark’ are 20 cm longer. (3) Response time. The response time of ‘Redock Dark’ is shorter. (4) The disc-floret size of ‘Redock Dark’ is smaller. (5) Foliage size and color. The foliage of ‘Redock Dark’ is bigger and more yellow-green.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Redock Dark’ as a new and distinct variety. The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 edition.

TABLE 1 Botanical Description of CULTIVAR ‘Redock Dark’ Bud Size Small, cross-section 0.7 cm height 0.9 cm Outside Color Red-purple 73 D Involucral bracts 3 rows, length 8 mm, width 3 mm Involucral bracts among disc-florets Not present Involucral bracts color Green 147 B Bloom Type Single Height High Size Medium Fully Expanded 7.0 cm Number of blooms per single stem Average of 14 Seeds Not produced Performance (blooming period) 4 weeks Fragrance Typical chrysanthemum Color Center of the flower (disc-florets) Immature yellow-green 144 A Mature yellow-green 151 C Color of upper surface of the major- Red-purple 74 D ity of the ray-florets Color of the lower surface of the Red-purple 73 D majority of the ray-florets Tonality from Distance A spray mum with pink flowers and a yellow-green disc Discoloration to color To color 73 D Ray florets Texture Upper and under side smooth Number 26-28 Cross-section Strongly concave Longitudinal axis of majority Reflexing Length of corolla tube Short Ray-floret length 3.3 cm Ray-floret width 1.0 cm Ratio length/width Medium Shape of tip Pointed, very occasionally round Disc florets Disc diameter 0.8-1.0 cm Distribution of disc florets Numerous, clearly visible at all stages of flowering Shape Tubular Color Yellow-green 144 A Receptacle shape Conical raised Reproductive Organs Stamen (present in disc florets only) Thin 3 mm in length Stamen color Yellow-green 144 B Pollen No pollen present Pollen color Not applicable Styles (present in both ray and disc Thin florets) Style color Yellow-green 144 B Style Length 4 mm Stigma color Yellow-green 144 B Stigma Width 2 mm Ovaries Enclosed in calyx Plant Form A spray mum meant for erect culture Growth habit Upright Growth rate Very vigorous Height 125-135 cm Internodes 2.5-3.0 cm Spray formation Corymbiform Stem color Yellow-green 147 B Stem strength Medium Stem brittleness Present Stem anthocyanin coloration Absent Peduncle length Near the top 16 cm, near the mid- dle 23 cm, near the bottom 28 cm Peduncle color Green 147 B Peduncle, attachment Brittle Peduncle, angle with stem Small, 30° C. Flowering Response(photo-periodic 47 days controlled crop, not natural season) Foliage Color Upper side yellow-green 147 A Under side green 138 B Size large; length 12.0-14.0 cm, width 7.0-8.0 cm Quantity (number per single stem) 30-34 Shape Ovate and deeply lobed Texture upper side Fleshy and glabrous Texture under side Pubescent Ribs and veins upper side Ribs and veins well developed Ribs and veins under side Ribs and veins well developed Venation arrangement Palmate Shape of the margin Lobed Shape of Base of Sinus Between Round Lateral Lobes Margin of Sinus Between Lateral Converging Lobes Shape of Base Rounded Apex Mucronate

TABLE 2 Differences with the comparison Varieties ‘Blue Pink ‘Redock ‘Dark Elite Dark’ ‘Redock’ Reagan’ Reagan’ Ray-floret color Red-purple Purple Red-purple Purple 74 D 75 A 69 B 75 C Flower height High High Flat Flat Cross-section Strongly Strongly flat Flat of ray-floret concave concave Vigour Very Very Vigorous Vigorous vigorous vigorous Plant height 125-135 cm 125- 100-125 cm 105- 135 cm 130 cm 

1. A new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 